CBP Acting Commissioner Acknowledges Screening Equipment Purchases Lagging
CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan acknowledged that the agency has not been able to spend the hundreds of millions of dollars Congress has provided to purchase non-intrusive screening equipment for ports of entry. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., had asked: of the $182 million sent to CBP for non-intrusive inspection equipment in fiscal year 2018, the $264 million in fiscal year 2019 and the $60 million sent in the current fiscal year, how much has been spent?
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Morgan testified at an Appropriations hearing in the House of Representatives Feb. 27 that he wasn't sure, but he believes the agency has allocated most of the 2018 dollars for specific purchases, and 18 months from now, it will probably have finished dedicating the money from FY19. “We're trying to be thoughtful and methodical” in choosing equipment, he said. Currently, just 3% of cars undergo this kind of screening, and 16% of trucks do. He said the agency is shooting for 40% of cars to have non-intrusive inspection, and 72% of trucks.
“I think we're going to need some plans on how you get there, and how you get there faster,” Aguilar replied.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, the top Republican on the Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, asked Morgan about the pilot of a new passive cargo inspection technology, and when that technology might be purchased. Morgan did not directly answer but said that using non-intrusive inspection generally “is a game-changer.”
Members of Congress -- including Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif. -- were puzzled as to why CBP didn't ask for funding to pay the additional 2,000 officers Congress funded over the last two years. Morgan said that's because they're asking for new travel and immigration fees, and those fees' revenue could pay for 2,100 officers' salaries and benefits.
There was a gain of 1,074 CBP officers during FY19, and an additional 1,000 new officers were hired to replace those who quit or retired. For the coming fiscal year, CBP is requesting $31.4 million in construction funds for trade and travel operations, and $25 million for operation and maintenance of non-intrusive inspection equipment, as well as buying 45 pieces of hand-held non-intrusive inspection equipment.